Bag opening machine with adjustably mounted bracket supported arms



R. K. POTTLE Aug. 26, '1952 BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED BRACKET SUPPORTED ARMS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR.

ZLMTlILo ATTOE/V'YS Aug. 26, 1952 R, K, POTTLE 2,608,332

BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED BRACKET SUPPORTED ARMS Filed Allg. 7, 1946 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2'I /1 7 TOE/YEYS and for` holding them in opened Patented Aug. 26," 1952 BAG OPENING MACHINE WITH ADJ USTABLY MOUNTED BRACKET SUPPORTED ARMS `Ralph K. iPottle," New York, N, Y., Aassignorto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., `a.

corporation of N ew Jersey i ApplicationAugustJ, 1946, Serial No. 689,069A4 n '1 ciaims. 01. 22e- 18) This invention relates to bag or` container opening machines and has particular referenceto` a machine for opening or expanding flattened` or collapsedV bags, flexible containers and the :like position for filling", Y w

aAn; object of the invention is` the provision oi a` bag or v,container opening machine for openingl flattened, folded or collapsed,"iiexible bags, shippingcarriers and the like into an expanded article receiving condition, and which machine has parts whichcan be adjusted` for different sizes of containers.- I i i i l Another Aobject of the invention` is the provision of a bag or container openingmachine hav,- ing collapsibleand expandable elements which in-V oneposition permitthe telescoping of a partially opened bag thereover and which in another position expands the bag or container` and holds the sameffincondition for -filling withmarticlea the bag thereafter being removed without disarrang'ingithe articles `which have been `illed in thebagn.;v I

AStill another 'object of the invention is the` provision'of such a machine which is,` oilsimple construction and wherein coacting orcooperating corner bag forming `arms or angle bars or elements expand a collapsed orpartially opened bag and hold it in article receiving condition, the expandedl bag and the articles filledtherein being'suppcrtedjby saidt angle bars `during `the filling" operation.

.Numerous other objects andadvantagesof the invention willv be apparent as it is better understood from thefollowing description, which, taken in' connection with the` accompanying drawings, discloses .aV preferred embodiment thereof@` v l I Referring to the drawings: l p, l Figure,T l is a front elevational Vview of abag opening machineembodying the present invention; ,Fig. 2 is a side elevational View` of `the machine, shown in Fig. l, illustrating a bag` or shipping carrier held in a partially opened position andj in aar-fully` opened position, the bag being indicated by dot and dash-lines; and` Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing part of a cornerbag forming arm with part broken away, andin section'.A 1 l As a preferred embodiment of theinvention', the drawings illustrate a machine for` opening flattened, foldedor collapsed bags, exible con# tainerajshipping carriers and the like designated bym'the `letter Af: which, upon `being partially opened and slipped over collapsible and expand,- able corner bag `forming arms or angle bars'of the machine, may be expanded into article `receiving condition. I The bag A usually is made of flexible material such as paper and when expanded preferably forms a square or arectangular container.` Such containers may be ofvarious sizes or proportions, a rectangular form being illustrated inFig. `1 of the drawings` I These, containers are usedlforthe shipping of'articlessuch as empty cans from the can making factory tothe Cannery. lSuch a bag A is formed with four side Walls indicatedjby the letters a, b, c and d,eachiwall having a marginal edge at one end bent or folded and secured to a bottom wall e` (Fig. 2). The bag A just described is received, `for examp1e,x1at a can manufacturersplant in a flattened, folded or collapsed form and is used for packing empty cans or containers whiczhusually are formed with a tubular body having a bottom end secured thereto. ,inSuch cans are in acompletedform ready for filling at a cannery (except for thegytop ends which are usually shipped separately) `The complete, ready-to-iillcans Vare packed in bags orL flexible `containers Aby. the c an makerfor the purpose of shipping themA to the cannerl or packer .who fills the desired product therein. m

The bag opening machineembodyingthe. pres-.1

`ent invention comprises collapsible and r expandablecorner bag forming arms or,anglebars;;B

l for opening the bagsA and for holding themwin expanded position and supporting them while they are being filled. There preferably are four such armseach comprising an elongated angux` lar member located at the upperand lower cor.. ners at each side of the machine. The corner bag forming arms Bare pvotally carriedjin suit,-I able bearings which are mounted on an open, rectangular frame C, which has anadjustable crossbar IIl and which cooperates with .the frame in varying the position of thecornergbag forming arms to accommodate bags `of ,varyingV dimensions. The frameC issecured onclamping blocksV IL-which `are slidably clamp'edilto' vertical posts or pipes I3 mounted on a base I4 ofthemachine.Y

The corner'bag forming formed from `elongated angle irons I5, whichhave one end thereof secured in a V-shapedlslotI-B,

as by welding, in `a corner block IT. i The blocks I'I are each secured infa slot I8 of arocker-shaft I9 (see also Fig. l). The shafts I9 Whichfrock the corner bag forming arms are journaledor '55 carried in suitablebearings 24. which areffoinid in upper L-shaped corner brackets 25, 26 and in lower L-shaped corner brackets 21, 28. The upper angular corner brackets 25, 26 and the lower angular corner bracket Y 21 are adjustably mounted for the purpose of accommodating the bag forming arms B to varying sizes of squareV or rectangular bags. The upper bracket 25 is adjustable on the crossbar II, the upper bracket 26 and the lower bracket 21 being adjustable 0n the frame C. The lower angular corner bracket 28 is secured to the frame C and for the purpose of this invention does not require adjustability.

The open frame C comprises a pair of spaced vertical bars 34, 35, an upper horizontal bar 36 and a lower horizontal bar 31. These horizontal and vertical bars are secured together at theirA corners by plates 38, which are bolted to the respective bars. The adjustable bar II is secured at one end in the frame C by a clamping bracket 39 and at the opposite end by the upper corner bracket 26.

Vertical adjustment of the frame parts of the machine to accommodate different vertical dimensions of the bag A as viewed in Fig. 1 may be obtained by changing the position of the angular l corner bracket 26 and the clamping bracket '39. For this purpose a series of spaced threaded openings 42, 43 are formed in the respective vertical bars 34, 35. This permits vertical adjustment ofthe crossbar I I upwardly or downwardly.

Provision is made in the crossbar II and in the lower frame bar 31 for accommodating them to varying horizontal dimensions of the bag A as viewedin Fig. 1. For this purpose threaded openings 44, 45 are provided for horizontal adjustment ofthe upper corner bracket 25 and the lower corner bracket 21.`

The arms B hereinbefore described are actuated .inv any suitable manner through a plurality of the telescopical shafts which are carried in suitable b'earingsrin the corner brackets. These shafts are actuated in unison from a foot treadle 48 which is .formed on the front end of a treadle extension 52, which is carried on a pin 53, `mountedin a boss 54 arising from the base I4. The treadleextension 52 is connected to the lower end of a link connection 55 by a pin 56. The upper end of the link connection 55 is connected to a rocker.V arm 51 by a pin 58.

Rocker arm 51 is keyed to fa horizontalY telescopicalrshaft 62l which is carried in suitable bearings 63 which rare mounted on the lower corner bracket 28. Shaft 62 is telescoped -atone end in a keyed sleeve 64, which is carried in a bearing 65 mounted on the lower corner bracket 21. The outer ends of the shaft 62 and theA sleeve 64- are formed with bevel gears 66, 61 which mesh with and operate bevel gears 68 formed at thelower ends of the two lower corner shafts I9. Actuation of the. shaft 62 by means of the foot treadle 48 thus swings the lower corner bars B from a collapsed to an expanded position or vice versa (Figs. 1 and 2). y

The upper corner bars are operated in unison with the lower corner bars and for this purpose vertical telescopical shafts 12 are provided, there being one on each side of the machine asviewed in Fig. 1. Each shaft 12 is mounted lin spacedbearings 13 formed in the respective L-shaped corner brackets 21 and 28. Theshafts 12 are telescopically carried in the keyed sleeves 14 (see section at the right hand side as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings). The sleeves 14 are carried at their upper ends in suitable bearings 15 formed `in the respective corner brackets 25, 26. Each shaft 12,

like shaft 62 hereinbefore described, is formed with a bevel gear 16 at its lower end. These gears mesh with and are driven by bevel gears 68 formed on the upper ends of the two lower shafts I9.

In similar manner the sleeves 14 are formed with bevel gears 11 which engage with bevel gears 68 formed on the lower ends of the upper shafts I9 of the upper corner arms. Actuation of the foot treadle 48 thus rocks the shafts 62, 12 and the sleeves 64 and 14 in unison thereby effecting the simultaneous collapse or expansion of the corner bag forming arms.

The arms B are retained in a normal collapsed condition (see dot and dash lines Fig. 1) by means of a tension spring 82, which has one end connected to the treadle extension 52 and the otherend to a screw ring 33 secured in a horizontal stationary platform or wall support 84, which extends outwardly from the open frame C and is carried on a vertical pipe or tube 85, arising from the base I4. l

When the foot treadle 48 is-depressed the :arms B are swung to their expanded position las indifcated by dot and dash lines in Fig.` 2. AProvision is made to maintain the arms B in their expanded position so that empty'cans or other articles may be packed into the bag or shipping carrierA whilethe latter is in article receiving condition.l For this purpose a locking latch 92 is pivotally carried on a pin 93 secured in a lug 94 'forrned"inte-- grally on the base I4. The latch 32 is actuated byA a spring 95 engaging against anvarin '86 of the locking latch. Latch 92 thus is: v`normally disf posed in a position for receiving an edge of the foot treadle as it is depressed downwardly and engaged beneath the shoulder section on the locking latch. f l In order 'to restore the 'corner Vbagv for-mingarm's B to their ycollapsed position, disengagement of the locking latch 92 from the foot treadle is necessary. This-'is accomplished by merely press-- ing the latch against its holding spring 95, allowing the return of the foottreadle to its normal position (Fig. 42).l

Operation of the machine herein-before de scribed is as follows :V Bag A as indicated-l'cy the letter D (Fig. 2) is partially opened at its mouth, such a bag then is slipped orV telesccped over the outer ends of the four corner bag forming arms While they are in converging or collapsed posi,-` tion. The partially opened bag thenis slippedv further onto the arms B- to open the 'sidesof the bag.V The arms B then are swung vto 'their fully expanded Vposition as indicated by the dot and dash lines E (Fig. 2) by depressing vthe 'fo-ot treadle 48 as previously described. This action fully opens the bag or carrier A into articlereceiving condition. i y 5 After full expansion of the larms B, the bag or carrier A is brought into square or rectangular shape as indicated by the dotV and dash lines'F (Figs. .l and 2), the lower wall C ofthe bag being supported bythe horizontal platform 84 as 'the bag 'or container A is filled with empty fcans 'or other articles which arepassed throughthefopen frame of the machine and into the lfully opened mouth of thebag. y

The bag or container A upon Abei-ng iille'd with empty cans or other articles then may beslipped off the corner bag forming arms Bfwhile they 4are still in expanded position by reversibly sliding the lled bag on the platform 84. This is effected without disturbing the arrangement of the 'cans or other articles inthe filled bag. The 'filledibag is then closed and sealed' at its open end in any suitable mannerand is now ready for shipment to thelcanery or other packing place.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendantadvantages willibe understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbeforeidescribed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

"Iclaim: i

l.' Ina machine for opening bags and the like and for holding-them in. position for filling, the combination of an open-.frame through' which articles are passed during said filling, a plurality of brackets mounted on said frame, said brackets comprising upper brackets vertically movable on the frame to adapt the machine to one dimension of a bag to be expanded and lower brackets one being horizontally movable on the frame and cooperating with a horizontally movable upper bracket to adapt the machine to another dimension of the bag, rocker shafts journaled in said brackets, a bag forming arm secured to each of said rocker shafts, telescopical shafts carried on said brackets and having an interconnection at each of its ends with an end of a said rocker shaft for actuating said telescopical shafts and said rocker shafts, a connecting linkage secured to one of said telescopical shafts for swinging said arms in unison to a collapsed position and to an expanded position, and a foot treadle for operating said connecting linkage, the positions of said brackets and telescopical shafts being in accordance with the size and shape of a bag to be expanded, said arms being disposed in said collapsed position to receive a partially opened bag when in' a collapsed position, the said arms thereafter being expandable within the bag to open it into article receiving condition.

2. In a machine foropening rectangular bags and the like and for holding them in position for lling with articles, the combination of a rectangular frame, a bracket mounted diagonally on each corner of said frame, so-me of the brackets being slidable on said frame into selected positions in accordance with the dimensions of the bag being opened, rocker shafts journaled in said brackets, corner bag forming arms mounted on said rocker shafts to swing diagonally inwardly into collapsed substantially pyramidal formation to receive a partially opened bag thereon and to swing outwardly into expanded substantially parallel formation in which each of said arms engages a corner of the bag to hold the latter in open and extended position for filling, axially adjustable actuating means mounted between and operatively connected with adjacent rocker shafts to swing said arms in unison, and a bag supporting platform secured to said frame and disposed parallel to said arms when the latter are in extended position, for supporting a wall of the bag during the filling operation.

3. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in position for filling with articles, the combination of a frame, a plurality of brackets mounted on said frame, some of said brackets being slidable on the frame into selected positions in accordance with the dimensions of the bag being opened, an arm pivotally carried in each of said brackets, rotary means carried on said brackets for swinging said arms 6. to an expanded formation. in which each of said arms engages a corner of a bag to holdthe lat` ter in open and extended position forllingxand adjustable intermediate means betweenfs'aid'rotary `means of adjacent bracketsand cooperable with said rotary means for swinging said arms inunison, adjustment of said intermediatemeans being effected by sliding of said bracketson said frame in accordance with the size and shape-of a bag to be expanded. i

i 4. In a machine for opening bags andthe like and for holding them in position foriiilling with articles, the combination of a frame, a plurality of brackets mounted on said frame, some of said brackets beingslidable on `the frame into selected positions in accordance 'with' the Adimen` sions of the bag being opened, a rocker shaft journaled in each of said brackets, a bag forming arm secured to each of said rocker shafts, gear means on said rocker shafts for simultaneously swinging said arms to an expanded formation in which each of said arms engages a corner of a bag to hold the latter in open and extended position for filling, telescopica] shafts extended between adjacent brackets, said telescopical shafts having gear means meshing with said rocker shaft gear means, and actuating meansl operating through `said gear connected shafts for swinging said armsto a normally collapsible formation to receive a partially openedfbag thereon and to an expanded formation within the bag to hold the latter in open and extended posi-tion for filling.

5. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in position for filling, the combination of an open frame through which articles are passed during said lling, a bar adjustably secured to said frame and coactive therewith, a plurality of brackets secured to said frame and to said bar, one of said brackets being movable on said bar and other brackets being movable on said frame in accordance with the dimensions of the bag being opened, a bag forming arm pivotally carried in each of said brackets, and means operable through all selected positions of said brackets for swinging said arms to a collapsed position to receive a partially opened bag, and to an expanded position with said arms engaging within the corners of the bag to open the bag and to hold it in article-receiving condition.

6. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in position for filling, the combination of an open frame through which articles are passed during said filling, a plurality of brackets mounted on said frame, some of said brackets being slidable on the frame into selected positions in accordance with the dimensions of the bag being opened, a rocker shaft journaled in each of said brackets, a bag forming arm secured to each of said rocker shafts, telescopical shafts carried on and interposed between adjacent brackets, gears secured to each of said telescopical and said rocker shafts with adjacent gears meshing for operating the shafts in unison, and actuating means having application to one of said shafts for swinging said arms to a collapsed position to receive a partially opened bag, and to an expanded position within the bag to open the bag and hold it in articlereceiving condition.

'7. In a machine for opening bags and the like and for holding them in position for filling, the combination of an open frame through. which articles are passed during said filling, a plurality oaibrackets; :secured-to .said frame, some of :said

brackets being sldable. on `said `frame ,into se-v leted p` sitionsY in yaceordance with the dimensions. of Ythe bagbeing. opened, rockershafts journaledln'said brackets for oscillating movement, airbag yformingarm carried by eachA rocker shaft for enga'gng-nsideo a bag to loeopened,V axially adjustable,.oscllating means interposed `between and-connected to adjacent rocker shafts :for swinging said arms in unison tol a; collapsed position nto-receive a partially opened bag in its collapsedformfand: to. an expanded position to vopen thefbag'` fon filling, actuating means connected with said .oscillating meansr'for operatingthe-latterl to. collapse -and to-.expandy said. bag forming armsfgandf meansoperable on said actuating means forf locking? .saidarms nmexpandedtpose tionl withinfa bag during the lling operation.,

. Y A RALPH 1K. POTTLE.

. REFERENCES-.CITED "The-following references'areof record-in the le of lthisfpatent: Y

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10 Number Name v DateI 1,830,645 Dietsch'; 1 Nov. 3,l 1931 1,887,751 Colver: Nov.Y 15, `1933 2,031,264 Kennebeck Feb. 1,8,"1936 2,037,484; Raymerietal.. Ap1'.i1 4l=,1 1,936 2,042,858@ Nico1asv June 2,;1936 2,272,258,V 

